New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Universal Music Enterprises) Rock legends KISS return with Monster, the 20th studio album in their historic career, set for release on October 15 (October 16 in North America) through Universal
Music Enterprises. The band's first single, the full-throttle, autobiographical rocker "Hell or Hallelujah," is available digitally today, July 3, and makes its worldwide premiere with the lyric video across VEVO, the world's leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform, which includes VEVO.com, mobile, connected devices and syndication partners like YouTube.
Monster, the 12-track, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll album features collaborations among all four members—including co-founders Paul Stanley and
Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer—in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that's saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history—28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.
Monsterrepresents KISS' nod to the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. The group goes back to their own beginnings. "There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album," promises Gene Simmons. "The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. KISS has become a behemoth. We're going where no bands have gone before."
On July 4, the day after "Hell or Hallelujah" hits digital retail in North America, KISS crosses the ocean for its very own Tea Party, performing an Independence Day show at The Forum in London, a holiday most certainly not celebrated in the U.K., though this show might just offer some reparation for that bitter defeat in 1776. The concert will serve as a benefit for the British "Help for Heroes" organization, which raises money for its wounded, sick and injured troops.
